Shavuot for Parents and Children

Shavuot – Background for Parents (Researched and written by Sylvia Rouss)  Shavuot is celebrated seven weeks after Passover, usually in late May or early June when the wheat harvest ripens. Shavuot which means “weeks” is also known as the “Festival of  First Fruits.” In biblical times, farmers brought bread baked from the spring wheat harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem as gifts for God.  After the destruction of the Temple, this agricultural rite could no longer be observed.  As a result, Shavuot also became the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai.  On Shavuot, synagogues are decorated with flowers and greenery. Many Jews spend the entire night after the evening service studying Torah. The story of Ruth is read the following morning because her story combines the acceptance of Jewish Law (as was done by the Jews at Sinai) with the wheat harvest.  Ruth, who was the great grandmother of King David, converted to Judaism and met her husband, Boaz, during the wheat harvest.  In Israel today, children celebrate this harvest by wearing floral wreaths and parading through their communities. Baskets of the first fruits of the season called “bikurrim” are donated to the needy.  The eating of dairy foods has become customary on Shavuot. One explanation for this tradition is that when Moses returned from Mount Sinai, the Jewish people did not have time to prepare a lavish meat meal to celebrate the occasion so they celebrated with dairy foods instead. Another reason often given is that, since Shavuot is a harvest holiday, grains made with milk should be eaten.  A third reason is that the learning of Torah is like milk and honey, healthy and sweet.

New Torah’s Lucky Day

(Adaptation by Sylvia Rouss from the story, The Lucky Torah, by Lillian S. Freehof)

A new Torah was placed into the synagogue Ark. I’m going to like it here,” announced the new Torah as she met the three other Torahs in the Ark.

There was Big Torah, Tall Torah, and Thin Torah. “We hope you’ll be happy living in this Ark with us,” they all exclaimed.

New Torah nodded just as the doors of the Ark began to open. “There’s the Rabbi!” whispered Thin Torah.

Today is Shabbat,” Big Torah explained. “The Rabbi will take one of us out and read the week’s portion.

The Rabbi reached in and gently picked up Tall Torah and took it out of the Ark.

“He chose Tall Torah this Shabbat,” said Thin Torah.

“Oh how lucky she is!” said New Torah. “I hope I will be chosen next Shabbat.”

Every Torah is just as good as any other Torah,” said Big Torah. “It’s just luck to be chosen for a service.”

Maybe next Shabbat will be my turn,” said New Torah hopefully.

“Torah’s aren’t only read on Shabbat,” explained Thin Torah. “On every holiday the Rabbi takes one of us out to read from.”

“Maybe the Rabbi will choose me on Sukkot,” said New Torah happily.

“No,” said big Torah. “Sukkot is past, Purim is past, and Pesach is past too.”

“Oh,” thought New Torah sadly. “Maybe I’ll never be lucky.”

The next Shabbat, Big Torah was chosen by the Rabbi. The following Shabbat it was Thin Torah’s turn. New Torah was happy for her friends. How lucky they were! She couldn’t help feeling a little sad that she had not yet been chosen for a service. Maybe she just wasn’t lucky.

A few days later all the Torahs were awakened early as the doors of the Ark were opened.

“What’s happening?” whispered New Torah.

“It’s time for Shavuot,” explained Big Torah. “Shavuot is a special holiday that celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The Rabbi will dress us in our holiday clothes. We will all wear beautiful covers.

Each Torah was taken from the Ark and dressed in white velvet covers with gold braiding. New Torah wondered which one of her friends would be the lucky Torah for the Shavuot service. Would it be Tall Torah, Thin Torah, or Big Torah? “You all look so beautiful!” she exclaimed.

New Torah listened as the Shavuot service began. She could hear the sound of music through the doors of the Ark. She felt excited for her friends as she listened to the Rabbi open the doors of the Ark. Which one of them would be the lucky Torah?

The Rabbi reached in and New Torah saw him touch Big Torah, His hands gently passed from Big Torah to New Torah. New Torah felt herself being lifted into the Rabbi’s arms.

“Look!” said Tall Torah. “The Rabbi has chosen New Torah to be the lucky Torah for Shavuot.”

“Oh, I am lucky!” cried New Torah as she stood tall and straight in the Rabbi’s arms.

“Happy Shavuot,” said Thin Torah.

“Happy Shavuot,” said Tall Torah.

“Happy Shavuot,” said Big Torah.

“Happy Shavuot to all of you,” said the Lucky New Torah.

 

 

Blintz Souffle

Batter: ¼ softened lb. butter or margarine, ½ cup sugar, 6 eggs, 1 & ½ cup sour cream, ½ cup orange juice, 1 cup flour and 2 tsp. baking powder.  Filling: One 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese (cut up), 1 pt. small curd cottage cheese, 2 egg yolks, 1 Tbsp. sugar, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Directions: Mix batter ingredients. Pour ½ of the batter into a greased 9 X 13 baking pan. Mix filling ingredients well and spread evenly over batter. Pour remaining batter over the filling and bake at 350 for 50 – 60 minutes. Serve with jam, thawed fresh frozen fruit or applesauce.

Noodle Kugel

Batter: ½ lb. broad egg noodles (cooked), 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup cottage cheese, 1½ cups milk, 1 tsp. vanilla, 4 eggs, 4 Tbs. melted butter or margarine, 1 cup raisins and 1 cup sugar.  Topping: ½ cup crushed cornflakes, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. sugar.  Directions: Mix all the ingredients and refrigerate overnight or for at least 3 hours. Pour into 9 X 13 baking pan. Sprinkle on topping mixture. Dot with additional butter or margarine and bake at 350 for 1 – 1½ hours until golden brown.

Lag B’Omer for Parents and Children

Lag B’Omer

Background for Parents

Researched and Written by Sylvia Rouss

The 49 days between the second day of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot are called the Omer. This period is a time of mourning whose origins are unclear and as a result many do not observe this mourning period. Marriages and public celebrations are forbidden during this time. Lag B’Omer is celebrated on the 33^rd day of the counting of the Omer and is a day on which mourning is suspended. This minor festival is observed by going on family picnics and outings. In Israel, storytelling and dancing around bonfires are part of the festivities.

There are several events associated with this holiday. One reason cited for the celebration comes from a miracle associated with Rabbi Akiba who lived in Israel 2000 years ago. Many of his students were killed by a terrible plague that miraculously ended on the 33^rd day of the Omer (Lag B’Omer).

Another reason cited is the bravery of Shimon Bar Yohai, a disciple of Rabbi Akiba’s, who opposed Roman law by teaching his students in mountain caves. The students carried bows and arrows to fool the Roman soldiers when they went to study in the hills.

Still another reason cited is a rebellion against Roman rule by Bar Kochba. Although the rebellion was unsuccessful, Bar Kochba is remembered for his courage against a far stronger enemy.

Lag B’Omer is a time to remember our scholars and heroes. It is a joyful day for children to picnic outdoors.

SONGS

RECIPES

Ants on a Log

Celery sticks

Peanut butter or cream cheese

Raisins

Spread butter or cream cheese onto celery sticks. Place raisins on top to represent ants. Eat.

Lag B’Omer Munch

Mix nuts, raisins, chocolate bits and sunflower seeds together for a healthy outdoor snack.

LEARNING GAMES

1.       Spatial Relationships - Use a real basket and piece of fruit. Ask child to put the fruit in the basket, under the basket, behind the basket, etc.

2.       Recall - Use the foods from Ari Ant and the Lag B’Omer picnic to play, “What’s Missing?” Have children identify items and then close their eyes. Remove an item and let children guess what is missing.

Sammy Spider and PJ Library

  

Sammy Spider with two of his favorite people, Harold Grinspoon, the founder of PJ Library and Amy Bergman, Director Jewish Family Life of the Lorraine & Jack N. Friedman Commission for Jewish Education, West Palm Beach Florida at the PJ Library Conference at the  Pearlstone Center in Baltimore Md.  (you can see more photos at Amy’s Facebook page).

 

Baltimore is Sammy Spider’s hometown.  I wrote my first Sammy book, Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah, when I was a teacher at Beth Tefilloh PreSchool.

Sammy Spider’s Jewish Calendar 5773

 

Spend the year with Sammy Spider! Sammy Spider’s Jewish Calendar has ideas and activities to keep you busy all year long!

Perfect for classrooms, children’s rooms and organizing the busy family’s schedule

Yom Ha’Atzmaut Activities

Rhymes about Israel

Let’s Visit Israel

By Sylvia Rouss

Let’s visit Jerusalem, the city of gold.

You can see the Western Wall which is very old.

At the Dead Sea you won’t need a boat,

The water is so salty it will make you float.

If you climb Masada, it may be higher than you think.

Take some water. You may need a drink.

Tel Aviv has coffee shops on nearly every street.

It isn’t hard to find something good to eat.

Going to Eilat can be a lot of fun.

You can hike or swim or just enjoy the sun.

A Falafel

By Sylvia Rouss

A falafel is a tasty treat

It is very good to eat

Take a bite if you’re in the mood,

For a pita filled with tasty food.

Five Little Jerusalem Children

By Sylvia Rouss

Five Little Jerusalem children have lots to do.

This little boy goes to the zoo.

This little girl goes to the shuk.

This little boy goes to the Shrine of the Book.

This little girl goes to the park to play.

This little boy goes to the Wall (Kotel) to pray.

The Western Wall

By Sylvia Rouss

Five little children go to the Western Wall to pray.

This one finished and backed away.

Four little children go to the Western Wall to pray.

This one finished and backed away.

Three little children go to the Western Wall to pray.

This one finished and backed away.

Two little children go to the Western Wall to pray.

This one finished and backed away.

One little child goes to the Western Wall to pray.

When he finished, he backed away.

Learning Games about Israel

1. Archeological Dig Feely Box – Explain how archeological digs help us find out about ancient Israel. Take a large plastic bin and fill it with sand. Bury plastic dishes and silverware in the sand. Let children feel the objects and try to identify them without looking.

2. Israeli Flag Puzzle -Take 2 pictures of the Israeli flag, color them and laminate. Cut 1 laminated flag into pieces and have children assemble it by placing it on top of the uncut flag.

Yom Ha’Atzmaut

Yom Ha’Atzmaut – Background

Biblical Israel dates back 3000 years. After the destruction of the Second Temple 2000 years ago, the Jewish people were dispersed to other countries all over the world. It wasn’t until 1948 that the modern country of Israel was created.

In 70 C.E., the Jewish people were expelled from their land by the Romans. Forced to live in foreign lands for 2000 years, the Jewish people retained their Jewish identity. Many adopted the language and customs of their host country but, at the same time, they continued to study Torah and observe Jewish traditions. Throughout this 2000 year period of exile, the Jewish people were often persecuted.

About 100 years ago Jewish pioneers from Europe and Russia returned to their ancient homeland, which was now called Palestine, a part of the Turkish Empire. The land that had once been so fertile had been neglected. It was mostly desert and swampland. Through much hard work, these early pioneers reclaimed the land and made it fertile once more. After World War I, the Turks were defeated and Palestine became a British Protectorate.

During World War II, European Jews suffered at the hands of the Nazis. 6,000,000 Jews were killed in the Holocaust. After the war, the Jewish survivors no longer had homes to return to. On May 14, 1948, the United Nations voted to establish two countries in Palestine, one Arab and one Jewish. The Jews agreed to the resolution which gave them less than half of Palestine. The Arabs, however, were opposed to the resolution. Immediately Five Arab countries went to war against Israel hoping to drive all the Jews out. With their greater numbers and help from the British, the Arabs were certain they would be victorious. The Jews were fighting for their very survival and ultimately overcame great odds to defeat the Arab countries.

Yom Ha’Atzma-ut is Israel’s independence day. It is a new holiday celebrated with parades, picnics, aerial shows, campfires, dancing and noisy fun.